Keep ICE Out of Washington County, Maryland Act
HB7470, titled the “Keep ICE Out of Washington County, Maryland Act,” would bar the Department of Homeland Security and its components, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from establishing, operating, expanding, or reopening an immigration detention or holding facility in Washington County, Maryland. The bill also prohibits the use of federal funds for any such facility in the county.
The bill defines a covered facility broadly to include facilities used primarily for the civil detention or holding of noncitizens, whether operated directly by the federal government or through contracts, intergovernmental service agreements, or private entities. It also creates a private and governmental enforcement mechanism allowing county residents, the county government, a Member of Congress, or the State of Maryland to sue in federal court for declaratory and injunctive relief if the prohibition is violated.
If enacted, the bill would directly restrict DHS and ICE from using federal authority, appropriations, or contracting arrangements to site or operate an immigration detention or holding facility in Washington County, Maryland. It would not change general federal immigration detention law nationwide, but it would create a county-specific federal prohibition and a judicial enforcement pathway in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The measure would also reinforce local land-use and community input concerns by limiting federal facility siting in the county.
The bill’s findings and caption indicate strong opposition to ICE detention facilities and a favorable view of local control, due process, and community concerns. The available context shows no recorded votes or committee debate, so there is no documented bipartisan support or opposition in the materials provided. Overall, the bill appears to be framed as a protective measure for the county and for detained noncitizens, with a clearly critical stance toward ICE detention practices.
The main points of contention are likely to be federal preemption, the scope of congressional power to prohibit facilities in a specific locality, and the policy merits of immigration detention itself. Supporters are the bill’s sponsor and likely local residents, county officials, and Maryland officials who object to a detention facility in Washington County. Opponents would likely include DHS/ICE and supporters of federal detention capacity, who may argue the bill interferes with federal immigration enforcement and facility siting decisions. The bill’s findings also reflect a broader dispute over detention conditions, due process, access to counsel, and the role of local communities in federal land-use decisions.